if $f(x)$ is in $F[x]$. $F$ is field of integer mod $p$. $p$ is prime and $f(x)$ is irreducible over $F$ of degree $n$ . prove that $F[x]/(f(x))$ is a field with $p^n$ elements.
Tell me more
×
Mathematics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for
people studying math at any level and professionals in related fields. It's 100% free, no registration required.
|
|
By the irreducibility of $f(x)$, the quotient $F[x]/(f(x))$ is a field. Show that distinct polynomials in $F[x]$ of degree $<n$ are inequivalent modulo $(f(x))$. This will follow from the fact that the polynomial ring $F[x]$ is an Euclidean domain. This reduces the problem to counting the number of polynomials of degree $<n$ over $F$, which is straightforward. |
||||
|
|